Corn popper



5, 9 J. o. KUHN 3,280,720

CORN POPPER Filed Sept. 22, 1965 I 2 Sheets$heet l ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 25, 1966 J. o. KUHN 3,280,720

CORN POPPER Filed Sept. 22/, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W ii 3% 2/ AT TO RN EYS United States Patent 3,280,720 CORN POPPER James 0. Kuhn, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Kenner Products Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,236 4 Claims. (Cl. 99-2385) This invention relates to simulated toy cooking implements for children. More specifically, this invention relates to a simulated toy oven for popping corn.

An objective of this invention has been to produce a simulated toy oven of the type set forth, thus providing children with a toy by means of which they may become acquainted with and identified with the adult world.

Another objective of the invention has been to provide a simulated toy oven of the type set forth having relatively safe operational characteristics such that dangers ordinarily inherent in such apparatus are eliminated.

Another objective of this invention has been to provide a simulated toy of the type set forth which is sufliciently sturdy to withstand the rugged play and abuse to which toys of this type are subjected in the course of play by children.

A further objective has been to provide a simulated toy oven of the type above set forth which is adapted to be made of economical materials such that it is inexpensive to manufacture, comparatively simple to assemble, and relatively easy to operate.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from further consideration of the following detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy oven for popping corn.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a channel and rack assembly associated with the toy oven.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4-6 are partially cut away side views of the toy oven depicted in perspective in FIG. 1.

A preferred embodiment of the invention as herein set forth and constructed in accordance with this invention includes a channel and rack assembly 1, a simulated range 2 that includes slideway 3, and means 4 for providing heat energy. The range is disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 420,575, filed December 23, 1964.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the channel and rack assembly comprises a substantially closed rectangular channel 5. The channel 5, at one end 6, has perforations 7 on the top 8 thereof for the purpose of better heat transfer into the channel from its surroundings. At the other end 9, the channel 5 has an aperture 10 in the bottom 11 thereof. Intermediate the two ends there is another aperture 12 in the top 8 of the channel 5. The aperture 12 has a collar 13 to eliminate sharp edges of the aperture 12. Inside channel 5 there is a substantially rectangular rack 14 with sides of such a height that it is free to move therein. End 9 of channel 5 is closed by cap 15 having an aperture 16 substantially in the center thereof. Concentric with the aperture 16 and mounted on cap 15 is a guide tube 17 having a partially closed end 18 and of a diameter substantially equivalent to the diameter of aperture 16. Concentric with the guide tube 17 and mounted on end 18 thereof is a sleeve tube 19, the diameter of which is substantially equivalent to that of a rack handle 20 passing in slidable relationship therethrough. The rack handle 20 is provided with a knob 21 at end 22 for easier use thereof. Inner end 23 of rack handle 20 is held in pinned relationship to the rear end 24 of rack 14 thus providing a means by which the rack 14 may be slid longitudinally to various positions within the channel 5 without manually touching the channel 5.

The part of the range at the left in FIG. 1 resembles a range oven having sides 25-26, a front 27, a back 28, a base 29, and a top 30. The top 30 is provided with perforations 31 for release of excess heat energy into the atmosphere and a handle 32 for use in transporting the toy. Sides 25 and 26 may also be provided at the bottom thereof with perforations 33 as shown on side 25. In addition, the front 27 may have handles 34 mounted thereon and an oven window 35 to more closely simulate the outward appearance of a range oven. Inside the left part of the range 2, i.e., the range oven, heat reflectors 36 are provided as disclosed in the copending application to which reference has been made. Preferably light bulbs are employed as a source of heat.

The slideway 3 comprises a substantially rectangular channel 37 closed on top 38 and open at each end 39 and 40. The channel 37 is integrally mounted with side 25 and side 26 has an aperture 41 of a size substantially equivalent in dimensions to the end 40 of the channel 37. The channel 37 is supported by structural members 42 and 43. The member 43 is integral with both the channel 37 and the base 44, and the side 27. The base 44 is integral with the base 29, thus insuring complete structural rigidity between these elements. The slideway 3 may have simulated burners 45 as well as simulated controls 46 painted or formed thereon.

In operation, the channel and rack assembly 1 is positioned as shown in FIG. 4 and the rack 14 is positioned under the aperture 12. Unpopped corn is inserted through the aperture 12 into the area confined by rack 14. The rack 14 is then moved, by means of handle 32, in the channel part of assembly 1 until the rack 14 abuts against the end 6. Thereafter the light bulbs are activated and the unpopped corn allowed to pop, as shown in FIG. 5. Subsequently, the rack 14, with the popped corn confined therein, is withdrawn to the end 9 of the rectangular channel 5 whereat the popped corn drops through the aperture 10 and into a container 48.

Having described and set forth my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy oven for popping corn comprising in combination pan means having a substantially closed and rectangular channel with top and bottom sides, said channel having perforations on said top side at one end thereof whereby heat energy may readily reach the inside thereof, a first aperture intermediate the ends and on said top side whereby said corn is inserted in the unpopped state, a second aperture at the other end thereof and on said bottom side whereby said corn is removed when in the popped state,

range oven means having an upper and lower chamber therein,

slideway means integral with said range oven means whereby said pan means may be inserted therein or extracted therefrom such that said pan means forms a divider for said upper and lower chambers, and

heat energy means having sufficient heat energy capacity such that said corn may be popped within said pan means.

2. A toy oven for popping corn as set forth in claim 1 there being pan means having a substantially rectangular rack within said channel for the purpose of restrict ing the movement of said corn whether in the popped or unpopped state.

3. A toy oven for popping corn as set forth in claim 2 there being pan means having handle means mounted on said rack whereby said rack may be moved substantially the full length of said channel.

4. A toy oven for popping corn as set forth in claim 3 there being heat energy means comprising at least one References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,224 4/1910 Stine 99-2386 1,157,326 10/1915 Ralston 99-238.1 2,117,872 5/1938 Barnard 99238.7

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOY OVEN FOR POPPING CORN COMPRISING IN COMBINATION PAN MEANS HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED AND RECTANGULAR CHANNEL WITH TOP AND BOTTOM SIDES, SAID CHANNEL HAVING PERFORATIONS ON SAID TOP SIDE AT ONE END THEREOF WHEREBY HEAT ENERGY MAY READILY REACH THE INSIDE THEREOF, A FIRST APERTURE INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS AND ON SAID TOP SIDE WHEREBY SAID CORN IS INSERTED IN THE UNPOPPED STATE, A SECOND APERTURE AT THE OTHER END THEREOF AND ON SAID BOTTOM SIDE WHEREBY SAID CORN IS REMOVED WHEN THE POPPED STATE, RANGE OVEN MEANS HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBER THEREIN, SLIDEWAY MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID RANGE OVER MEANS WHEREBY SAID PAN MEANS MAY BE INSERTED THEREIN OR EXTRACTED THEREFROM SUCH THAT SAID PAN MEANS FORMS A DIVIDER FOR SAID UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS, AND HEAT ENERGY MEANS HAVING SUFFICIENT HEAT ENERGY CAPACITY SUCH THAT SAID CORN MAY BE POPPED WITHIN SAID PIN MEANS. 